The Creek News February 2026

THE CREEK

BOARD OFTRUSTEES

Michael Hughey

President

Dean Kramer

Vice President

John Venne

Treasurer

Erich Herkloz

Secretary

Scott Duman

Sean Fox

Kiel Gilliland

John Higgins

Thomas Koerner

Greg Markus

Chris Noyes

Tyler Prime

GOLF

TUESDAY

GeneralManagerInsights

ElishaCarson

When the last Newsletter was published in November, I was just one week into my new role at LCCC. So much has taken place over the past 90 days I’ve had the opportunity to meet many of our members and their families, and yet there are still so many I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting I truly look forward to that opportunity soon

I try to be present in the dining room as much as possible, but if you don’t see me there, please feel free to stop by my office or ask a member of our team to help locate me. You are the reason we do what we do every day, and it’s imperative that I understand what you love about the Club and where we can continue to improve

From the outside, this time of year may seem like a “quiet time” in the Club’s annual cycle, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. This is when our management team plans the experiences you’ll enjoy in 2026. A great deal of time was spent reimagining our entertainment calendar, and I’m incredibly proud of the hard work, attention to detail, and passion poured into this year’s schedule The results are outstanding

We received a lot of feedback regarding the usage of Blu, and you’ll see that we listened by adding many more events in that space for 2026. I would be remiss if I didn’t also thank the MEC Committee for donating their time and insight to help make the Club better for everyone Much of their feedback was incorporated into this year’s calendar The full events calendar is now posted on the app please be sure to take a look!

The golf staff, Golf Committee, and WGA have also carefully curated the 2026 golf calendars, bringing back your favorite events while introducing a few exciting new additions.

We’re also excited about our recent hire of an in-house social media content creator, a role that is already proving to be invaluable This allows us to share information with you in real time, in the ways many of us prefer to receive it today, while still maintaining email and app communications for those who prefer those methods

One of my least favorite parts of running a club is when members’ lives change and, for whatever reason, their time at the Club comes to an end At the end of 2025, we experienced our normal attrition, which was about half a percent lower overall than average As a result, we have a very limited number of golfing memberships available for 2026. These are available both for upgrades from House or Social Members and for new members, without a waitlist

In Patty Fagan’s article, you’ll find full details on our upcoming Spring Trial for new House and Social members, as well as information on our current referral program. Referrals remain the best way to welcome new members into our LCCC family If you know someone who may be interested in joining, please contact Patty

Thank you again for your continued support and for making LCCC such a special place. The entire team looks forward to creating many more Incredible Experiences and Everlasting Memories with you and your family in 2026

MembershipMatters

PattyFagan

As we settle into February, it feels like the perfect time to start looking ahead to spring at Laurel Creek. While winter gives us a chance to slow down and enjoy the quieter moments at the club, spring is when Laurel Creek truly comes to life

With that in mind, I'm excited to share details about our Spring Trial Membership program, which is designed to give new families the opportunity to experience the Laurel Creek lifestyle before making a long-term commitment.

The Spring Trial Membership is a threemonth, risk-free membership that begins on March 15th and concludes on June 15th Because this program has a fixed start and end date, families who are interested are encouraged to apply now The membership application and approval process may take up to 30 days to complete

New families may participate in the Spring Trial Membership as either a House or Social member To participate, families provide a fully refundable deposit of $3500 The only ongoing requirement during the trial period is the $150 00 monthly food minimum If a family chooses not to continue membership after June 15th, the deposit is refunded in full This program is available to new families only Previous members are not eligible to participate

Spring is also a wonderful time for our current members to introduce friends, neighbors, and colleagues to Laurel Creek through our member referral program

Members who refer a new family to membership will receive $1000 credit to their account. This credit may be applied to all club charges except for dues and assessments The referral program will conclude on May 31st

Last year, 16 members earned the referral credit by welcoming new families into our community. This year, our goal is to reach 20 member referrals, and with your help, I know we can get there If you know someone who has expressed interest in the club or who you feel would be a great fit for Laurel Creek, this is the perfect time to make an introduction.

As always, I am happy to answer any questions about the Spring Trial Membership, the Referral Program, or membership in general. Thank you for being such an important part of what makes Laurel Creek special I look forward to an exciting and vibrant spring season head

NewMembers

On the left is: Maddox

10/11/2025

On the right is: Jett Tyler McCoy, born 11/3/2025

The19thHole BobHennefer

This year, the PGA Tour did something unique, and this is not Rules of Golf Changes from the USGA and R&A, these are local rules changes for the PGA Tour What this means for what you’ll see on TV and how it impacts local rules at Laurel Creek

Rule Change#1

Player Has Not Played from Wrong Place When Unaware Ball Might Have Moved

Summary: TV Rule. This is when you’ll be penalized for causing your golf ball to move, but you didn’t know it moved Best example is when a TV camera picks this up in microframes, but you can’t see it to the naked eye. How this applies to Laurel Creek? If you see your golf ball move, you must replace it to avoid playing from a wrong spot

This is not a local rule Laurel Creek will adopt.

Rule Change#2

Limited or Extended Relief for Embedded Ball

Summary: Hard to adjudicate for amateurs and non-TV. I don’t see USGA, R&A or Augusta adopting the rule

In simple terms: If a player’s ball comes to rest in another player’s pitch mark in the fairway, they may take free relief; previously, players were granted relief only if their balls settled in their own pitch marks

Laurel Creek will be adopting this local rule

Rule Change#3

Internal Out of Bounds

In simple terms: Internal out of bounds will be designated as O B only for shots played from the teeing area.

Summary: The Tour is more penal than we are with this rule We observe this on #9, just in the opposite

Laurel Creek already has a version of this rule in place when playing hole #9 Hole #18 fairway is internal out of bounds for every shot EXCEPT the tee shot when playing hole #9

Rule Change#4 Immovable Obstructions Close to Putting Green

Summary: More of a TV rule again with microphones, cables, ground under repair damage. I think our rule is fair enough, but we should look around the greens to see if there is more than sprinkler heads

Laurel Creek already adopts a version of this rule with sprinkler heads. IF in your line of play in the fairway/fringe there is a sprinkler head and that sprinkler head is within two club lengths of the putting green and your golf ball is within two club lengths of that sprinkler head, you get FREE relief, nearest point of relief, no closer to the hole.

Rule Change#5

Broken or Significantly Damaged Club Replaced with Similar Club Purpose

Summary: This allows you to carry extra shafts and driver and fairway wood heads in your golf bag This is a modern age rule In simple terms: A player can repair or replace a significantly damaged club mid-round with components from his bag, assuming the damage was not caused by abuse Remember if the club is put together and in your golf bag, it would count as a 15 club and would be a rules violation If you have extra components, keep them separated in your golf bag

This could potentially save time, and Laurel Creek will adopt this local rule

Rule Change#6

Preferred Lies Modification

In simple terms: The relief area for preferred lies has been reduced from a club-length (about 46 inches) to scorecard length (about 11 inches) A scorecard length is used universally by other organizations, and will provide fairer outcomes during competition as the ball will be placed from closer to its original spot.

Summary: Clears up discrepancies

Laurel Creek will adopt this local rule when preferred lies is in effect, otherwise known as lift, clean and place You will be able to move the golf ball the length of one scorecard

LCWGA

Who says the off-season is boring? Not for two of our ladies! Marybeth Taras had her first, and Linda Toogood had her third hole-in-one! Marybeth was at the Florida Club in Stuart, and Linda had hers on the third hole at Laurel Creek! Big congratulations to them!

The group also enjoyed a “Wines around the world tasting” hosted by Lorraine Filimon and organized by Maryann Stack

We are missing warm sunny days on our lovely course Looking forward to opening day on April 8 and the welcome reception the evening of April 7

To those who may be interested in what the LCWGA does all season. We have many events ranging from fun and social to more competitive We have our Wednesday league play, 9-hole match play, and Invitationals, Women’s Golf Association of Philadelphia matches, and Trenton District Golf Association events. To take part, you need to be a member of the Laurel Creek Women’s Golf Association Keep an eye out for the invitation and application by email soon

I remember being intimidated to join the LCWGA years ago I thought I would slow people down or embarrass myself However, what I found was the most kind and thoughtful group of friends I have learned a lot about golf and bought too many cute golf clothes along the way And many of us will say our favorite part of Wednesdays is gathering for lunch after the round Please give our group a try; you will not be disappointed A great introduction would be one of the Spring Clinics; dates and times will be listed soon For more information about membership, you can email

Susan Kaufman shk0827@aol com

Lynne Demmerly lldermmerly@aol.com

Jennifer Halfpenny jenhalf@icloud com

Heidi Bourke heidihmh@yahoo com

Enjoy the last few weeks of Winter, Spring will be upon us soon. Safe travels to all of you coming back from warmer climates Looking forward to seeing everyone soon!

EmployeeRecognition

On January 19th, we celebrated our annual end of season employee party, an event our staff looks forward to every year It is a chance for everyone to relax, enjoy great food, and be celebrated, while our managers take the reins and do the serving after a season of hard work The evening also marks a special moment when we present our annual employee recognition awards We are proud to recognize the following team members as this year’s award recipients

AtTheTable RyanReeves

It’s nice to start the new year with so many new faces at the club. With all these new faces, we want to be able to greet you by name and build a profile for you. That way, when you are dining with us, we know exactly what your preferences, allergens, and restrictions are so we can ensure a great dining experience at Laurel Creek Please make sure to get your photo taken with Patty Fagan, our Membership Director, or we are happy to snap a photo of you when you dine at the restaurant If we get a photo for your profile, you will receive a complimentary beverage card to use whenever you would like

Another way for new members to acclimate to the club and start building relationships is by attending trivia night This is a fun and entertaining activity that allows you to mingle with all demographics of membership here. Kiel Gillaland, a member for more than 10 years, Board Member, and Chair of the Member Experience Committee, always tells people, "It was the first event we attended, and I knew zero members when I joined, so it is special and dear to me because of that " It’s not always easy to meet people by approaching them at events or striking up conversations at the bar Playing a game together and sharing laughs is an easy way to build relationships Trivia night is typically held on the last Friday of every month. The winner of the previous month usually hosts the next, giving the game a different theme and feel. Please email jgeller@laurelcreek org if you have any questions You can sign up on the app just like any other event

If you are a new member and have an interest in wine, you should absolutely consider becoming a member of our wine society This group receives complimentary wine tastings and education throughout the year We partner with our wine vendors to come out and walk our society members through a tasting, which is

usually themed These small, intimate tastings give you an opportunity to take your time, ask questions, and appreciate the selection you are exploring. This membership also comes with special order pricing, which is a huge incentive Please email me at rreeves@laurelcreek org if you would like to hear more and are interested in signing up.

For members starting to familiarize themselves with our menu, we change the menu quarterly or more to match the seasonal offerings We just recently did a winter refresher, which you might have noticed. This consists of some totally new items as well as returning fan favorites. The menu items listed in green are the ones that were recently changed, so you can easily identify them There are also icons next to the menu items to signify allergies or aversions. Be sure to try something new the next time you are in and let us know what you like

EmployeeoftheMonth JeffStewart

Jeff has been a valued member of the Laurel Creek team since first joining the Club in the 1990s. After leaving in 2004 to pursue other opportunities, he returned full time in 2011 and has continued to be an integral part of our operation. His ability to work independently, manage his time effectively, and take pride in every task makes him a true asset Jeff never takes shortcuts and completes each job with care and professionalism, while still challenging himself to work as efficiently as possible

Despite his many years at Laurel Creek, Jeff never believes any job is beneath him and willingly takes on any task without complaint, setting a great example for others

During the off season, he regularly volunteers to work Saturday mornings to check the course, demonstrating his commitment and reliability Jeff’s positive attitude, punctuality, and strong attendance record help set the tone for a successful day, and we are proud to recognize him as our January Employee of the Month.

Chef’sCorner PeteRosenblatt

This crab dip is on our new winter menu and it’s the perfect appetizer to serve for the big game!

Warm Crab & Artichoke Dip

8-10 servings

1lb lump crabmeat, picked

8 oz softened cream cheese

1 cup mayonnaise

6oz marinated artichokes, chopped

2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice

2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

½ cup grated parmesan cheese

¼ cup panko breadcrumb

2 tbs butter

Salt and black pepper

Preheat oven to 375 Combine the softened cream cheese and mayonnaise in a medium mixing bowl, whisk until smooth. Stir in the crabmeat, artichokes, lemon juice,1 Tbsp olive oil and ¼ cup of the parmesan cheese, season with salt and pepper to taste Transfer the dip to a small ceramic baking dish Melt 1 tbsp butter in the microwave, combine with the panko breadcrumbs and a pinch of salt.

Top the dip with the buttered breadcrumbs, remaining ¼ cup of grated parmesan and drizzle with the remaining 1 Tbsp of olive oil Bake for 12-15 minutes until the top is golden brown Serve immediately with crackers or tortilla chips.

*The dip can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator until ready to bake

OntheCourts DanBatchelor

Spring Tennis – Important Dates

Our courts will be professionally resurfaced the week of April 6th.

Weather permitting, courts and club clinics are expected to reopen the week of April 13th

Ladies Spring League (Cup Tennis)

Spring league is just around the corner, and we’re aiming for our biggest turnout ever. If you’re interested in participating and haven’t yet filled out the Google Form, please reach out we’d love to get you in the game

Summer Golf & Tennis Academy

Registration opens February 1 for our 6-week Summer Golf & Tennis Academy, running June 22 – August 7. A great option for junior athletes looking to develop skills in both sports

Summer Tennis Camp

For those who prefer a tennis-only experience, we will offer a comprehensive Summer Tennis Camp program from June 19 through August 21 The program includes full-day and half-day options and is designed for players of all levels, from beginner to advanced

With flexible enrollment, families may register for individual days, weeks, or the entire summer, allowing you to choose the schedule that best fits your needs

Thank you for being part of our racquets community We’re fortunate to have such an engaged group, and it’s your continued involvement that truly makes it special. As always, we’re open to your ideas and committed to supporting what matters most to you

Enjoy the rest of the winter season, and we’ll see you on the courts very soon!

FromtheGreens

JohnSlade

We often speak about leaving untreated check plots on the golf course, in order to verify if a plant protectant application or cultural practice was truly effective There are many reasons why turf may perform well or not, so it's impossible to make accurate conclusions if all areas are treated exactly the same.

As you may recall, last winter we left a couple of uncovered check plots on #2 and #10 to see how they healed from aerification in relation to the greens that were covered

Of course, all of the greens are covered at the moment

With the greens remaining uncovered this winter, we are doing the exact opposite, and have tarped sections of #9 and #17 green

Once again, this will allow us to compare turf recovery side by side and evaluate the impact of using covers (or not)

FEBRUARY

Night in Blu

Live Music

Sophie Coran

Valentine’s Dinner Specials

Live Music

Chris Stevens

Live Music

Sophie Coran

Valentine’s Dinner at LCCC Italian Night in Blu

Beth Tinnon Austin Hope Wine Dinner Designer Bag Bingo

Live Music Carl Filbert

Winterfest Live Music Tony Manning

Trivia Night Live Music

MARCH